Tuesday, April 3, 2007

As people sipped Coronas and sodas and mingled among the crowd at Carl Brewer's campaign party Tuesday night, The Hall Monitor was working the scene, trying to find out who's going to fill Brewer's shoes in District 1. We've got a list of potential contenders and we're hoping you'll add to it by clicking on the "comments" link below. The right person will need 100 signatures from district residents, an affirming vote from the District Advisory Board and a majority vote of the City Council. Let us know what you think and see what we heard by clicking "read more."

Here's a glimpse of people's reactions to the now-pressing question:Asked about the vacancy, former mayor Bob Knight pointed to Rip Gooch, the former state senator and former City Council member. Gooch, however, said, "I've done that." He said maybe his daughter Bonita Gooch, publisher of The Community Voice, could take it on. She has a background in public administration, he said. Several people have urged her to step in, he said. Rev. Titus H. James came up too. He's the pastor of North Heights Christian Church.

Brewer said there's "an ocean" of good people who could fill his seat. He said many of them are on his District Advisory Board. Lavonta Williams seems to be high on the list. She appeared in Brewer's campaign ads, boasting Brewer's neighborhood clean-up efforts. She's also a teacher and is on the Visioneering diversity task force. James Thompson's name also surfaced -- as did the rest of the DAB, which includes: Gerald Domitrovic, Shane Dundas, Treatha Brown-Foster, Steve Roberts, Debra Miller-Stevens, Inga Taylor and Shontina Tipton.

Tell us who you think will be able to get 100 signatures, support of the DAB and four votes from the City Council.

Why can't we get an ordinary citizen, who's concerned about the state of those neighborhoods represented in the first district, to run? Someone who works in Wichita, is progressive in the community, aware of the issues that Wichitans are concerned about, and sensitive to the needs of District 1. Let's face it, with the exception of a few far northeast neighborhoods within district 1, it's not a very "high-end" part of Wichita. There are working people, there are elderly, there are a lot of bad streets and run-down houses/neighborhoods. There is crime. District 1 doesn't need a politician, it needs someone who's responsive and informed.

Iagree, why can't we get someone who is NOT a familiar name or face, but lives IN THE AREA - no political background, BUT SMART and WISE enough to HOLD THEIR OWN in MOST instances? Quite frankly, most of us are tired of the SOMEONE WHO KNOWS SOMEONE, SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE PUBLIC EYE ALL THE TIME, just some common folk will do!!!!

My name is Joe Compton and I hope to fill Carl Brewer’s City Council seat. I retired from the US Navy in 2003, and hold an MA in International Relations. I own On Target Consulting and Mediation. I know how to work with people. I also teach graduate and undergraduate courses at Baker University and the Wichita campus of the University of Phoenix.

I am a “common man” with vision and the ability to represent the interests of all District 1 Wichitans. I can give the job of Councilman an enormous amount of time and effort. Please contact me if you would be willing to sign, or help me collect signatures for the seat!

Brian Black from the Urban League would be a great fit. He is a consensus builder, an intelligent, articulate man and an overall really great person. I've worked with him on various community projects and he is great.

I'm Jael Van Boening and I'd like to serve on the City Council. I'm 25 and have lived in District 1 since I graduated from college. I live in Uptown, a working neighborhood. I have two college degrees from Southwestern College and I'm a lifelong Wichita MSA resident.I hope they are careful in choosing a Councilman. We have the most diverse demographic in the city: African Americans, poverty, middle class, and well to do folks, Hispanics, whites, and every other ethnicity. While a black person would represent the majority, it would be nice to see a person who can do that without neglecting the rest of us.

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